This week is National Library Week. The theme for the event this year is “There is More to the Story.” One Marshall County library that has a rich story behind it is the Langford Public Library. Though small, the library is impressively active and has a strong history of dedicated people helping this local institution flourish.
The Langford Library was founded in 1942 thanks to the efforts of the local “Study Club.” The club continued to support the library for many years. It was first located in a room at the back of the Langford State Bank and over the years moved various times. It is now located on Main Street where it shares a building with the city Finance Office.
A newspaper article from 1986 listed board members that year as Phyllis Osness, Cheryl Dwight, Jen Likness, Marlys Hardy, Tammy Cole, Darlene Carson, Patsy Foote and Janice Anderson. Current board members are Kayla Suther, Kellie Alberts, Kaitie Stiegelmeier, Karen Wegleitner, Stephanie Fix, and Brandi Fries.
In addition to dedicated boards, various hardworking librarians also helped the Langford Library thrive. Janice Anderson was the librarian decades ago and then shared the job with Yvonne Olson. Olson held the position for years and was succeeded by Nicole Hoines who became the librarian in 2020.
Each of these librarians brought something special to the table over the years. According to long-time Langford resident Paula Jensen, it was Anderson who started the beloved Mother Goose Story Times. This program not only featured the reading of a story but also other fun happenings including crafts and a ‘marching band’ performance complete with children playing various instruments.
Jensen recalls Anderson helping grow library programming as well. “With Janice, the programs were really experiences, not just a book and a craft,” said Jensen. “Janice and then Yvonne would get the whole community involved, even outside the walls of the library.” She remembers one year the summer reading program included a community Renaissance fair.
Jensen added that through her own job she also helped Anderson apply for grants for computers. “Langford was one of the first small-town libraries of that time to have computers. The next closest libraries to have any were probably Aberdeen and Watertown,” explained Jensen.
Olson helped Anderson as librarian and eventually took over the position herself in the 2010s. Everyone who mentions Olson cannot help but gush about her work at the library and the way she interacted with the children in particular. “She was so beloved in the community,” said Jensen. “She cared so much for the kids and had a unique way of working with them.” Olson even used to call the kids “her little angels.” She carried on the rich tradition of meaningful programming. Jensen notes that Olson created a fun and learning-forward space not only for children but also for adults in the community. Programs for adults became common as well.
Before Olson passed away from cancer, she put in a good word for future librarian Nicole Hoines. “I was happy that Yvonne wanted me to get that position,” said Hoines. “At the same time, it was intimidating, and I knew she had left me with big shoes to fill.”
But fill the shoes she did indeed. Hoines only took over three years ago but has helped grow the library and its programming tremendously just in that time. The library is now open full-time, five days a week. Considering at one point it was open just two days a week for a couple hours, this is notable.
Her library board cannot say enough good things about her as well. Board President Kayla Suther commented, “We are so lucky to have Nicole. She is bringing new and innovative ideas to the library that are really being embraced.”
The programming includes of course Mother Goose Story Time, but many others. There is Lego Club, Coding Club, a recurring gaming program, and a STEAM program. The Kids Club meets once a month for after-school activities. Hoines also runs an entrepreneur program during the summer where kids learn about business and even start their own small businesses.
Library BoardVice President Kellie Alberts has four children that she takes to the library multiple times a week. Eight-yearold Norah comments that she loves going for the kids book club. And six-year-old Landon said the Lego Club is his favorite.
Alberts emphasized, “It blows my mind what Nicole is able to do.” The board members added that Hoines is also a whiz at finding funding sources. “If she has an idea of something she wants to do, she usually has a grant to back it up,” said Alberts.
For her part, Hoines said before her library days, she had never even written a grant. However, over the last few years, she has written five and been awarded four of them. She is excited about an upcoming program for this summer that is being funded by a grant. “We’re going to start a youth education garden,” she said.
When asked how she keeps up her busy programing schedule in addition to the everyday tasks of the library, Hoines says she is trying to create a fun space for all. “I feed off the kids. The more we do here, the more books they check out. And the better we are all for that.”
Her board agrees and adds that a healthy library is part of a larger system. “When you think of a thriving town, you think of activity on Main Street,” stressed Suther. “The library right there is helping Langford with that. It’s a place for people to gather.”
Jensen added that she is happy to see the library continue to be a mainstay of the community and so well supported. “From kids to adults, the library has done important things. Children can go there if they can’t go home after school. And on the flip side, adults have gotten their GEDs on the library computers. We have Nicole and the previous librarians to thank for this plus generous donors and the support of community foundations.”
Hoines and the library aren’t slowing down anytime soon. Summer Reading Program is right around the corner. The busy librarian is preparing for many partakers, considering last year over fifty kids from all over the area participated. The theme this year is “All Together Now” and the program will run through June and July. To learn about all the fun activities happening at the Langford Public Library, you can visit their Facebook page.
So during this National Library Week, we salute this small but mighty place. As Suther commented, “Our library is a unique treasure in a small town.”
